Machine for making ice cream

Abstract

An ice cream machine for making ice cream, including a processing container forming a processing chamber for making an ice cream-type product; a stirrer mounted inside the processing chamber; a cooling system, provided with at least one heat exchanger associated with the processing container, for exchanging heat therewith; a device for receiving and housing a capsule containing a basic preparation; a device for transferring the basic preparation from the capsule to the processing container; a device for injecting a dilution liquid, associated with the receiving and housing device or with the device for transferring the preparation or with the processing container; dispensing means, connected to the processing chamber for delivering the ice cream-type product to the outside.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ice cream machine for making ice cream, comprising:
 a processing container forming a processing chamber for making an ice cream product; 
 a stirrer mounted inside the processing chamber; 
 a cooling system, including a heat exchanger associated with the processing container, for exchanging heat with the processing container; 
 a receiving and housing device for receiving and housing a capsule containing a basic preparation for ice cream; 
 a transferring device for transferring the basic preparation from the capsule to the processing container; 
 an injection device for injecting a dilution liquid, the injection device associated with the processing container and configured to release the dilution liquid into the processing container; 
 a dispenser, operating at the processing chamber for delivering the ice cream product to the outside. 
 
     
     
       2. The machine according to  claim 1 , comprising a nozzle for piercing the capsule to open the capsule. 
     
     
       3. The machine according to  claim 1 , comprising a transfer duct for transferring the basic preparation from the capsule to the processing container. 
     
     
       4. The machine according to  claim 2 , comprising an actuator configured to move the piercing nozzle and the capsule relative to each other. 
     
     
       5. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the capsule includes deformable walls and the transferring device comprises at least one compressing element, associated with the receiving and housing device and movable between a position in which the compressing element does not interfere with the capsule and a position in which the compressing element makes contact with and compresses the walls of the capsule when the capsule is received and housed in the receiving and housing device. 
     
     
       6. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the transferring device comprises a mixing chamber. 
     
     
       7. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection device for injecting a dilution liquid is associated with the mixing chamber, for releasing the dilution liquid into the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber being connected to the processing container for releasing to the processing container the basic preparation diluted with the dilution liquid. 
     
     
       8. The machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the transferring device comprises a rotary mixer, associated with the mixing chamber, and configured to rotate inside the mixing chamber so as to promote mixing of the basic preparation with the dilution liquid. 
     
     
       9. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the transferring device comprises a connecting duct connecting the injection device to the processing container for transferring, the basic preparation directly from the capsule to the processing container. 
     
     
       10. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection device is associated with the processing container and is configured to release the dilution liquid into the processing chamber. 
     
     
       11. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection device is associated with the receiving and housing device for releasing the dilution liquid directly into the capsule when the capsule is received and housed in the receiving and housing device.